Thursday 24 September 2015

Take Advantage of the "Golden Opportunities"

Exerpts from “A Practitioner’s Guide to Longevity Medicine for Women”
by Dr. Lia G Andrews, DAOM, L.Ac. from Oriental Medicine Summer 2015

Take Advantage of the “Golden Opportunities”

Jing is a term in Chinese medicine that refers to the combination of inherited and sustained resources of the kidneys, qi, and shen. Jing preservation is the primary goal when we discuss longevity. Jing can be leached away through overwork, regular stress, and poor diet, but is lost in greater quantities during procreation, or the potential for procreation, through the egg and sperm. Thus, men lose jing through ejaculation and women through menstruation and pregnancy. Most traditional cultures have prescribed ritual rest around menses and the postpartum month to protect women.[2] On the one hand, modern women enjoy greater freedom and gender equality, but on the other, there is no medical or cultural framework that acknowledges women’s transitions and cycles. I have seen in my practice infertility and premature menopause result from this lack. TCM practitioners are in a key position to educate the public on this matter. Symptoms during menses, after childbirth, and during peri-menopause are what most often bring women through the door. Fertility issues are typically linked to the menstrual cycle, and they may be complicated by poor recovery from a previous pregnancy.

Menstrual Care

Monthly menses signals more than just blood loss. The link between menstruation and longevity is seen in the concept of tian gui. The tian gui is related to hormonal and endocrine system maturation, manifesting in the sperm in men and in the menstrual blood and ova in women. Tian gui is intimately tied to jing essence and the ministerial fire[3]; women must carefully mitigate blood and jing loss during menses, and supplement afterwards. Menstrual care practices include diet and lifestyle. Women are advised to rest, stay warm, eat foods that support blood flow and nourish the body, and promptly address any imbalances in the menstrual cycle or flow with acupuncture and herbal treatment.

Postpartum Care

Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding represent a major depletion in kidney qi, blood, and jing. Postpartum care, known as zuò yuèzi 坐⽉月⼦子, is one of the single most important practices for a woman’s health. Like menstrual care, postpartum care includes diet and lifestyle recommendations, but stricter and lasting for the first month or more after delivery. Postpartum women are to rest, bind their abdomens, and eat special foods. This facilitates the passage of lochia, the return of the uterus and waist to normal size, and the production of healthy breast milk.

Peri-Menopausal Care

A major obstacle to peri-menopausal care is that most women refuse to associate with that term until their periods have stopped and their symptoms are unmanageable, while peri-menopausal care should begin much earlier. The Huangdi Neijing outlines womens’ seven year jing cycles and notes that jing begins to decline during the fifth cycle, at age 35. If a woman begins rejuvenation practices at this age she can delay menopausal symptoms and minimize their severity. She will reduce the temptation to use oral contraception to halt her periods as she approaches menopause, which is becoming common practice.[4] She will be less likely to rely on Hormone Replacement Therapy and cosmetic procedures. It is also easier for the practitioner, as the patterns are less entrenched, complicated, and difficult to resolve.

Treating Pre-Menopausal Jing Decline

In addition to the above mentioned practices, herbal medicine is very effective to promote longevity and rejuvenation. Perhaps the easiest way for patients to incorporate this on a daily basis is by using food herbs, also known as medicated diet or yàoshàn 药 膳. Food herbs are can be taken long-term without side effects, they taste good, and they are less intimidating to those afraid of “herbs”. There are a number of food herbs I recommend to women beginning at the age of 35 including shan yao (Rhizoma dioscoreae), hei zhi ma (Semen sesame nigrum), gou qi zi (Fructus lycii) and long yan rou (Arillus longan). In addition to food herbs, tonic herbs and formulas are required.

One of the most effective anti-aging herbs is ren shen (Radix Ginseng). TCM Dermatology and Cosmetology expert Dr. Yueying Yi, OMD recommends that women begin taking 1 gram of ren shen daily beginning at age 35 to delay onset of menopause and mitigate symptoms. [5] There are studies showing marked improvement in menopausal symptoms with Korean red ginseng[6] at slightly higher daily doses, even after the onset of menopause. A 1990 study on the effects of Korean red ginseng and menopause used 47 female subjects diagnosed with menopausal disorder. Each subject took 4.5-6.0 g/day of red ginseng powder orally for 8 weeks. By the end of the study, the women showed a marked increase in blood flow to the ovaries. The study concluded that Korean red ginseng powder was effective to treat anxiety, dizziness, ovarian dysfunction (promoted secretion of estrogen), digestion disorder, sexual function, and depression associated with menopause.[7] A 2002 study demonstrated significant relief in 30 menopausal subjects with a mean age of 57.3 years, taking 3g/day red ginseng powder with dang gui (Radix angelicae sinensis) and bai shao (Radix paeoniae alba) powder for 12 weeks.[8] A third, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 2012 studied 72 women ages 45-60. The subjects took 3 g/day of red ginseng in capsule form for 12 weeks. The study analyzed changes in menopausal symptoms using the Kupperman index. Subjects showed remarkable improvement, particularly a decrease in cardiovascular risk factor and increase in estradiol level.[9]

Treating Peri-Menopause

As women near menopause it is common to experience increasingly irregular, and often heavy, menstrual cycles. The decline in Jing, which characterizes the onset of menopause, allows other imbalances to surface. Symptoms experienced during perimenopause are key to resolving a woman’s primary imbalances before she enters the latter half of her life. Peri-menopausal women typically present complex and changing patterns and thus need to rely more on TCM practitioners to guide them on diet and lifestyle and offer appropriate treatments and herbal medicine. As jing declines it can manifest as a yin and/or yang deficiency. Yin deficiency is more prevalent amongst women as they age, which is why hot flashes and dryness symptoms are almost universal during menopause. Self-care becomes paramount with age. Women must practice daily stress relief such as qigong, tai chi, meditation, and yoga. Additionally, they must balance rest with work and play. Women can no longer live an unbalanced lifestyle without consequences. As women enter the post-menopausal phase of life, generalized jing deficiency becomes more pronounced and emphasis is placed on tonification.

Promote a Different Model of Sexuality

Sexual cultivation offers a model of sexuality that is distinct from both the religious sexual shaming and pornographic disempowerment that are rampant in our culture. It transforms sexuality into a balancing force in one’s life. Women are far less at risk of injuring their jing during sex than men. They are advised to practice moderation in sexual frequency and avoid intercourse when intoxicated or during menstruation.[10] Though women are biologically resistant, cultural constructs surrounding women and sexuality can be highly injurious to health. Sexual intercourse before sexual maturity can deeply injure yin and affect menstruation and fertility later on in life.[11] Prostituted women, sexual violence victims, and molested girls are greatly injured by sex. Many women who have avoided these experiences may still suffer from body image issues or the burden of pleasing others. If women are taught to have sex only when their bodies, hearts, and minds are all in agreement, this naturally leads to sexual moderation that is appropriate for their bodies and lifestyles without the imposition of arbitrary rules. In addition to this attitude change, women’s sexual cultivation practices typically include breast massage, ovarian massage, vaginal strengthening, and the circulation of sexual energy throughout the body. The stimulation and circulation of sexual energy has a rejuvenative effect on the body and stimulates hormonal balance. Conclusion Longevity medicine is the foundation of our medicine, particularly in the specialties of cosmetic acupuncture, fertility treatments, and menopausal care. If TCM practitioners are to do more than offer relief from symptoms, we must educate our patients on how to live better. Longevity practices need to be taken from theory into practices that can be incorporated into patient lifestyle.

Dr. Lia Andrews, DAOM, LAc is an educator, author, and practitioner of Longevity Medicine. Her books include 7 Times a Woman, The Postpartum Recovery Program™, and Secrets of the Daoist Courtesan. She co-owns Cinnabar Acupuncture and coproduces The Lia Andrews Show. - See more at: http://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2015/07/22/practitioner%E2%80%99s-guide-longevity-medicinewomen#sthash.4xwsogS4.dpuf

Thursday 27 August 2015

Classical Medicine for Treating Male Sexual Disorders

Classical Medicine for Treating Male Sexual Disorders
By Suzanne Robidoux, PhD, CM, DOM, LAc

As practitioners, we always want to bring the quickest, most effective treatment at the lowest price possible. In TCM, sexual disorders are mainly due to either liver qi stagnation, liver and kidney depletion, or the kidney and heart not communicating. What can we offer our patients, however, once we have used all the resources TCM has without any success?

In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhong Jing had already recorded effective formula patterns for male and female sexual disorders in the Lun Guang Tang Ye Jing, later renamed and compiled by Wang Shu He as the Shang Han Za Bing Lun.
Like every classical school of thought, understanding the medical system within the Shang Han Za Bing Lun is essential to applying it correctly in clinic. It is important to clarify that this system is unrelated to the constitution of the patient; whether they are young or old, thin or heavyset, has no correlation to the acupuncture channels or their pathways--it does not integrate with the zang fu TCM diagnosis.

Furthermore, it does not depend on the season or the weather. This system is based entirely on the full spectrum of symptoms presentation, including the tongue and pulse. Analysing these symptoms will tell us if the pathogens are lodged within the external layers, internal layers, or the half exterior-half interior layers of the body. According to the symptoms presentation, we will also be able to diagnose if the syndrome are of a yang and/or yin nature in each layer.

When we are treating acute or chronic cases of impotence, spermattorhea, premature ejaculation, lack of libido, or any other male sexual disorders, we must again record all of the presenting symptoms, diagnose which of the syndromes are affected, and eventually target a treatment formula and its modifications. The symptoms analysis according to syndromes has been listed in this newspaper in a previous article, but since they are the basis of this system, I will review them briefly. As Dr. Feng Shi Lun often says: “Being a true classical practitioner is not only using classical formulas, but also fully understanding the six syndrome system and formula and medicinal patterns.”

The key characteristics of the Six Syndrome System are:
  • Tai Yang Syndrome (external yang pattern): Fever, sweating or no sweating; aversion to cold and wind; pain and stiffness of the neck; severe pain of the joints and muscles; itchy skin disorders; floating pulse.
  • Shao Yin Syndrome (external yin pattern): Sweating (spontaneous deficient); aversion to wind and cold; joint and body pain; skin disorders; floating or deep pulse. Notice the lack of heat sensation and fever.
  • Yang Ming Syndrome (internal yang pattern): Fever; heat sensation; day or night sweating; aversion to heat; vexation; insomnia; depression; restlessness (excessive and deficient type); fullness in the epigastrium; chest oppression; diarrhea or constipation; swollen red and painful joints; rapid and slippery pulse.
  • Tai Yin Syndrome (internal yin pattern): Cold sensation; fatigue; bloating or vomiting after eating or drinking; diarrhea or constipation; with internal rheum, there will be insomnia; restlessness; joint and body pain; deep and slow pulse. (lack of heat sensation).

It is also important to note that the symptoms of external internal Tai Yin Syndrome are often seen in the symptom of upsurging qi, with internal rheum retention bringing the pathogens upward, along with symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, vomiting and heaviness of the head.

The syndromes of the half exterior-half interior layers are mainly seen as heat in the upper with cold in the middle or the lower, bitter taste, and pain in the rib sides:
  • Shao Yang Syndrome: Fever; heat sensation; sore throat; restlessness; irritability; introverted; tensed; glomus & tension under the heart; wiry pulse.
  • Jue Yin Syndrome: Acne; hot flushes; cold sores; cold sensation in the lower; fatigue; weakness; bloating after eating or drinking; diarrhea or constipation; restlessness; joint and body pain; deep and slow pulse demonstrating a depletion of body fluid and blood.

Furthermore, to deepen our review of this system, I have collected a few meaningful clinical cases from Dr. Feng Shi Lun and Professor Hu Xi Shu and have added in depth analysis according to this system to shed some light on the medical legacy given to us by Zhang Zhong Jing.

Case Studies and Formula Patterns

Case 1: Chronic Prostatitis with Urgent Urination
Mr. Yu, 25 years old
1st consultation on March 3rd, 2011
 
The patient was suffering from prostatitis for about 8 months before being treated with IV infusions for half a year, followed by micro-wave therapy and self-administration of the Chinese patent medicine Ba Zheng San, all of which proved to be ineffective.

The presenting symptoms were: severe frequent urination, roughly once every hour; a damp sensation in the scrotal area; a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen and perineum; night urination, 2-3 times a night; passing formed stools once every 2-3 days; a neutral taste in the mouth; normal appetite; occasional night sweats; a pale tongue with white and greasy coating; and a wiry rapid pulse—his left cun pulse was slightly floating and thin.

Analysis: The symptoms of severe frequent urination, pulling sensation in the lower abdomen and scrotum, and frequent bowel movement all belong to the Tai Yin internal depletion syndrome. This internal depletion has created internal rheum seen in the symptoms of dampness in the scrotum area, night urination and greasy tongue coating. In addition, this patient has the symptoms of occasional night sweats and a rapid pulse, demonstrating that the internal rheum has slightly transformed into heat, giving us a slight Yang Ming syndrome. The full differentiation is a Tai Yin Yang Ming Syndrome.

Prescription given was Shen Zhuo Tang plus Chi Xiao Dou Dang Gui San plus Sheng Yi Ren for seven days.

Cang Zhu - 15g
Gan Jiang - 15g
Fu Ling - 15g
Zhi Gan Cao - 6g
Chi Xiao Dou - 15g
Dang Gui - 10g
Sheng Yi Ren - 18g
 
Shen Zhuo Tang (also commonly referred to as Gan Jiang Ling Zhu Tang) was recorded on line 16 in the Jin Gui Yao Lue· On Visceral Wind and Cold, Accumulation and Gathering Disorders: "Patients with kidney disease will feel diffused body heaviness and coldness in the lower back, as if sitting in water, presenting with symptoms similar to rheumatic conditions, but without thirst or inhibited urination, thirst and hunger will be normal. This disease belongs to the lower jiao, sweating with exertion and dampcoldness inside the clothes. Over time, there will be cold soreness below the waist and abdominal heaviness which will feel as if one is carrying five thousand coins; Gan Jiang Ling Zhu Tang governs".

Shen Zhuo Tang includes Gan Cao, Gan Jiang, Fu Ling, and Bai Zhu, which fortify and warm the middle to treat the Tai Yin Syndrome and promote urination to drain the stagnation of the internal rheum. In this case, the chronic retention of internal rheum intermingles with blood and creates blood stasis. Chi Xiao Dou Dang Gui San was added to move stasis and drain internal rheum. Sheng Yi Ren is also added in this case to treat the slight Yang Ming Syndrome and expel dampness, since it is cool in nature and drains dampness by promoting urination.

2nd consultation on March 10th, 2011

After a week of this formula, the urinary frequency and scrotal dampness reduced, the pulling pain in the scrotum also resolved, the nocturia reduced to once a night, he passed formed stools 1-2 times a day, had occasional borborygmus, normal appetite, normal taste in the mouth, his tongue was pale with white and slightly greasy coating, right pulse was wiry, rapid, and forceful, the left guan pulse was slightly slippery, and both cun positions were floating.

At this time the symptoms improved, but the syndrome remained the same except for the resolution of the internal heat symptoms of night sweating, so the same prescription was given by removing Sheng Yi Ren. However, there was still a slight urine frequency and slight night urination, so the medicinals Sang Piao Xiao 10g and Yi Zhi Ren 10g were used to astringe fluid and consolidate essence.

Results: After taking this formula for 7 more days, the urinary frequency and scrotal dampness were no longer evident and his borborygmus resolved.

Chronic prostatitis can be the cause of many sexual disorders in men, such as spermatorrhea, impotence, and premature ejaculation. By treating the prostatitis, we can also treat the secondary symptoms successfully. This case is also a clear example of how 6 months of TCM costly treatment brought no relief and instead aggravated the symptoms. However, only two simple classical formulas, applied according to the Six Syndrome system, were able to bring relief within 2 weeks. The focus of the treatment was to fortify the middle, treating the Tai Yin Syndrome and promoting the body’s natural function of expelling internal rheum by urination.

Case 2: Premature Ejaculation
Mr. Yang, 31 years old
1st consultation on July 12th, 2011
 
The patient suffered from premature ejaculation for over half a year, accompanied by depression, anxiety disorders, and cold limbs. He took antidepressants and TCM patent medicine to tonify kidney yang and sooth liver qi for 6 months with no obvious curative effect.

The patient experienced ejaculation with intercourse lasting less than 1 minute, followed by local spasmodic twitches, nervousness, anxiety attacks, cold sensation in the lower limb, deep sighing, irritability, dry mouth, profuse sweating, sloppy stools once a day, dark tongue with a white coating, and a wiry and rapid pulse.

If we analyze the symptom presentation according to the Six Syndrome System: the cold limbs and sloppy stools belong to a Tai Yin Syndrome, the spontaneous sweating and the qi rushing upward symptom, causing the anxiety attack and nervousness, point to an unresolved exterior depletion Shao Yin Syndrome; the dry mouth, restlessness, depression, deep sighing, irritability, excessive sweating, and rapid pulse fit a Yang Ming Syndrome. Hence, the complete differentiation in this case is a Shao Yin Tai Yin Yang Ming concurrent syndrome.

Prescription given was Er Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang plus Cang Zhu, Fu Ling, Sheng Yi Ren.

Gui Zhi - 10g
Bai Shao - 10g
Bai Wei - 10g
Long Gu - 15g
Mu Li - 15g
Cang Zhu - 15g
Chuan Fu Pian - 15g
Sheng Jiang - 15g
Da Zao - 20g
Zhi Gan Cao - 6g
Fu Ling - 12g
Sheng Mi Ren - 18g
 
Since he also suffered from spontaneous sweating, the ying-wei were not consolidated, which leaves an opening for external pathogens to invade. If not treated properly, this depletion of body fluid leads to a yang deficiency in the lower, causing yang hyperactivity in the upper. Therefore, the treatment must include harmonizing ying-wei and expelling external pathogens while using Fu Zi to warm and tonify the deficient cold in the lower, and using Bai Wei, Sheng Long Gu and Sheng Mu Li to astringe the floating yang.

Er Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang comes from the formula Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang was recorded in the Jin Gui Yao Lue· On Blood Impediment and Taxation Disorders, line 8: “If a man loses his essence, his lower abdomen will be urgently tense, his glans penis will be cold, his vision will be blurry and he will lose his hair, and his pulse will be extremely deficient, hollow and slow, indicating clear food [diarrhea], causing blood collapse and seminal loss. Hollow, stirred, faint, or tight pulses indicate seminal essence loss in men and dreaming of intercourse in women; Gui Zhi Long Gu Mu Li Tang governs.”

Seminal loss and dreaming of intercourse are both lustful in nature and have a tendency to occupy the mind incessantly. This disorder also stems from body fluid damage due to sweating, leading to ying-wei disharmony. Long Gu and Mu Li not only astringe the essence, they also calm the mind and focus on clearing internal Yang Ming heat, restraining the spirit and checking nervousness. When combined with Gui Zhi Tang, which harmonizes ying-wei, this formula targets the pattern entirely. In the Xiao Pin Essay Quotations, it was recorded: “In case of weakness, floating heat and sweating, remove Gui Zhi and add Bai Wei and Fu Zi, otherwise known as Er Jia Long Gu Tang”. In clinic, however, Prof. Hu Xi Shu and Dr. Feng Shi Lun often add Gui Zhi to this formula to fortify the effect of harmonizing the ying-wei.

After taking this formula for one week, the patient reported on the second consultation that his sexual endurance improved and he could remain erect for 2-3 minutes during intercourse, that his nervousness had reduced, and that he had not experienced any anxiety attack that week. However, the patient experienced spermatorrhea twice, profuse sweating—especially at night—epigastric fullness, aversion to cold, and a neutral taste in the mouth. The symptoms of spermatorrhea, aversion to cold, and profuse sweating demonstrated that the exterior Shao Yin Syndrome was still present. The dosage of Chuan Fu Zi was increased to 20g and 10g of Jin Ying Zi was added to consolidate the exterior and astringe the body fluids.

As Chinese medicine practitioners, we see the conventional TCM treatments were ineffective since they were not aiming at the full syndrome. If there is a pathogen remaining on the exterior layer of either Tai Yang or Shao Yin Syndromes, as well as symptoms of these syndromes’ interior layers, we need to slightly promote sweating to resolve the pathogen on the exterior layer while simultaneously clearing the internal Yang Ming heat, addressing the internal deficiency of Tai Yin syndrome and harmonizing the interior and exterior ying-wei. The medicinal Fu Ling and Cang Zhu were effective to further drain the internal retention of rheum by warming the middle.

Case 3: Impotence
Mr. Cang, 30 years old
1st consultation on February 28th, 1963 (treated by Professor Hu Xi Shu and recorded by Dr. Feng Shi Lun)
 
The patient suffered from impotence and premature ejaculation for 4 years. During this time he had taken both TCM and Western medicines, which had had no effect. An examination revealed that he was suffering from chronic prostatitis, for which he was prescribed Gui Fu Di Huang Wan, but had no curative effect.

Symptoms: inability to maintain a full erection, premature ejaculation, excretion of urethral white mucuslike substance before and after defecation, lower back pain, tinnitus, white tongue coating, wiry and thin pulse.

If we analyze the symptoms, the impotence and premature ejaculation, inability to maintain a full erection, white tongue coating, lower back pain, wiry and thin pulse point to a external and internal concurrent syndrome of Shao Yin Tai Yin Syndrome. The excretion of urethral white mucus-like substance before and after defecation and tinnitus show internal rheum retention turning into heat, creating a Yang Ming Syndrome. The full Six Syndrome diagnosis is Shao Yin Tai Yin Yang Ming concurrent syndrome.

Formula pattern: Er Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang pattern

Gui Zhi
3qian - 9g
 
Bai Shao
3qian - 9g
 
Bai Wei
3qian - 10g
 
Long Gu
8qian - 24g
 
Mu Li
8qian - 24g
 
Zhi Gan Cao
2qian - 6g
 
Chuan Fu Pian
3qian - 9g
 
Sheng Jiang
3qian - 9g
 
Da Zao
4pcs - 20g
 
*1 qian is equal to 3g.

Result: After taking 3 packs, his tinnitus reduced and the amount of urethral fluid-excretion after defecation was markedly less severe. However, he would still occasionally suffer from tinnitus and lower back pain so he was given Si Ni San to target the slight Shao Yang syndrome causing the tinnitus and Dang Gui Shao Yao San was added to the original prescription to further treat the Tai Yin syndrome with blood depletion. After 6 further packs of this formula, all symptoms improved greatly and his impotence resolved.

The key to successfully using classical formulas in clinic and reaching results worth noting is to fully understand the classical system from which they stem. Every modification of the formula is able to reach a different syndrome combination. Particular care needs to be brought when adding or removing a medicinal, since every formula pattern is a key to unlocking a specific syndrome. Every change of symptoms might indicate an additional syndrome, at which time a new formula pattern or medicinal will be needed. Chinese medicine treatment is not a rigid system of prescriptions given for specific diseases as it is commonly seen in TCM and Western medicine. The essence of Chinese medicine resembles nature, with its multiple changes according to changes in the symptoms. Constant change and appropriate adaptation of the treatment are integral parts of the true nature of health and healing in classical Chinese medicine.

By reviewing these cases, we see that the commonly known treatment in both western medicine and TCM did not relieve the symptoms of these patients, and in some cases worsened their condition, whereas the correct syndrome diagnosis with the appropriate formula pattern brought about satisfactory results in a timely and cost-effective manner. As Dr. Feng often repeats: “有是诊,有是⽅方:有是诊,有是 药”. This quote translates to: “For each syndrome, there is a formula; for each syndrome, there are medicinals”. This lineage of the understanding of the works of Zhang Zhong Jing does not link the classical formulas to any of the acupuncture channels, zang fu diagnosis, body constitutions, or the changing seasons. Instead, each prescription is based solely upon syndrome diagnosis according to the symptom presentations.

Hopefully, this long standing lineage and understanding of the classical text from the Han Dynasty, handed down to us by the empirical doctors and dedicated teachers like Professor Hu Xi Shu and Dr. Feng Shi Lun, will survive the test of time and we will continue to keep the system pure and effective.

Dr. Suzanne Robidoux is a renowned international teacher and author of Chinese medicine in Europe, Asia and North America. She has learned and practiced in China for the last 15 years. She teaches one of the 3 classical acupuncture techniques from Taiwan effective for rapid pain management, three different scalp acupuncture techniques from Bei Jing, Shang Hai and Nan Jing, traditional and modern moxa techniques, and classical medicine. Dr. Robidoux completed her doctorates education in Nanjing with a clinical research on treating neurological pain. She is currently completing her postdoctoral clinical research on the classical system of the Shang Han Za Bing Lun at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and has also founded an international online teaching portal online.

- See more at: http://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2015/08/20/classical-medicine-treating-malesexual-disorders#sthash.Dub4pqQV.dpuf

Tuesday 28 April 2015

Acupuncture and Reproductive Health

Acupuncture is recognized as one of the oldest healing practices in the world, with written records dating back 5000 years. Acupuncture addresses an individual holistically; tapping into one’s innate healing. It is recognized as an effective treatment for more than 35 common illnesses by The World Health Organization. Hair-thin needles, herbal combinations, lifestyle adjustments, and nutritional assessment all factor into this approach to improve one’s overall health. At White Peony Acupuncture, we help men and women with ailments including headaches, acute and chronic pain, immunity and frequent colds/flus, cognitive disorders, skin conditions, digestion, reproductive problems, issues that arise in pregnancy, muscle tension, sleep disorders, neurological conditions, adjunctive care for people with cancer, and respiratory problems.
 
Acupuncture also plays a very important role in the treatment of women’s health and fertility, and helps to positively impact male reproductive health. It is the most common and popular form of holistic treatment recommended by reproductive endocrinologists and OB-GYN doctors for patients with an inability to conceive or carry a healthy child.We see clients get the best results when our therapies are combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle for at least four months prior to conception.
  
Acupuncture enhances fertility in these ways:
  • Regulating hormone levels in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian pathway
  • Nourishing the ovarian and uterine venous pathways by increasing the blood flow
  • Improving the thickness of the uterine lining
  • Reducing ovarian cysts
  • Increasing ovulation rates
  • Regulating the menstrual cycle
  • Regulating the immune system, such as antibodies, white blood cells, and T-cells
  • Regulating thyroid imbalance
  • Improving sperm count and motility
 
Acupuncture for managing Stress
 
How we respond to every day stressors can interfere with our hormone balance, sleep, digestion, and essentially every function in the body. Many women experience an emotional roller coaster with each menstrual cycle. Acupuncture releases beta-endorphins, which provides us with a sense of relaxation and pleasure.
 
Why should you Consider Acupuncture to Increase your Pregnancy Rate?
  • Acupuncture is safe, and has no negative side effects
  • You can begin at any time of your cycle
  • Your body willl recalibrate and heal
  • It helps relax your stressed mind and body, and harmonizes your system